Firefighter Patrick Shawcross with the lucky cat after the rescue was completed.
IT WAS all hands on deck this week during a mission to save a tiny kitten stuck 10 metres up a tree in a Ballarat park.
A group of walkers banded together in the three-day effort to save the kitten that was stuck in a tree in Victoria Park.
The Ballarat residents spotted the black and white cat up the pine tree in the middle of the park on Monday. Passersby made several attempts to bring the feline down – including tempting it with food – with no luck.
Calls for help to animal rescue, the Ballarat City Council and the RSPCA Ballarat were unsuccessful when they were told no resources were available to help.
In the end, members of the Ballarat City Fire Brigade came to the rescue.
Ballarat City senior station officer Mark Owen said when animals are stuck up so high, firefighters’ resources were the only option.
“When we got the call of course we headed out in the truck to help out,” Mr Owen said.
“It was an opportunity for a quick training exercise and the Bronto ladder platform was used to rescue the poor cat from the tree.”
Firefighter Patrick Shawcross was the one of the two firefighters who headed up in a cage to retrieve the cat.
“It had crawled into the tree and was at least 10 metres off the ground,” Mr Owen said.
“The poor thing was shaking like a leaf when it came it down.”
Unfortunately, the cat wasn't microchipped and was taken to a shelter soon after.
Mr Owen said animal rescues weren’t in the firefighters’ job description, but they were always happy to help out.
“For some reason or another, (the cat) didn’t want to come down, but I’m glad it is in safe hands now.”